Marist Fathers – Abuse and Cover-up
A blog by Damian Murray, former pupil of St Mary’s College Blackburn 1970/77
The blog records key steps in my investigations into how and why the Marist Fathers were able for so long to conceal sexual abuse by their former priest and principal of St Mary’s College Blackburn, the late Kevin O’Neill, and why all the expected mechanisms of management, governance and regulation failed, and continued to fail, completely.
(If you are new to the blog, start from the end with my case study of October 2020 and work upwards.)
Joshua Rozenberg Substack Article: Charity Commission in Contempt:
Charity Commission in contempt – by Joshua Rozenberg
House of Commons Committee of Privileges Report finding Charity Commission in Contempt of Parliament:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5902/cmselect/cmprivi/315/report.html
High Court refuses Charity Commission permission for Judicial Review – Damian Murray statement:
High Court Judgement refusing Charity Commission’s claim for Judicial Review to block Parliamentary Ombudsman’s report:
Journalist David Hencke Article 10 Sept 2025:
Exclusive: Complainant” Mr U ” waives anonymity to reveal the child sex abuse cover up behind the Charity Commission and Parliamentary Ombudsman dispute
Journalist David Hencke Article 5 Sept 2025:
Charity Commission reported to Privileges Committee by MPs after it tries to stop a critical report by Parliamentary Ombudsman
Civil Society News Article 23 Jan 2025:
Commission failed to handle safeguarding concerns properly, ombudsman concludes
Commission failed to handle safeguarding concerns properly, ombudsman concludes
Parliamentary Ombudsman Investigation report:
The Marist Fathers
Their culture and concealment of child sexual abuse, and the ‘watchdogs’ that refuse to watch, bark or bite.
by Damian Murray
Marist schoolboy, St Mary’s College Blackburn, 1970-1977
Marist Fathers - Abuse and Cover-up 